Offcenter pivot hinge gate

ABSTRACT

Automatic gate operated by wheel contact and lateral shifting of a hurdle and track rotating a cable driven offcenter hinge lifting and rotating the gate from the closing latch, the gate is swung to the open position by gravity and opening spring action of the offcenter hinge means and retained open by a post open catch. Spring means returning the gate to a closed position upon the vehicle departing the track. The closing spring returns the offcenter hinge to the closed position pivoting the gate imparting a closing motion. The gate is stopped and retained by the closing latch.

lt9/274 49/288X 49/287X 49/132 49/286X GottlieblLTreber 1,280,916 10/1918 Weiken.............,.......... P.O. Box 84, 609 Stephen, Kerrville, Tex. 1,638,202 8/1927 Jackson 78028 1,725,354 8/1929 Jasbng Appl4 No4 831,868 2,256,662 9/1941 B1aker....... [22] Filed .lune l0, 1969 2,463,392 3/1949 Kennel l 1971 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney-Willard J. Hodges, Jr.

OFFCENTER PIVQT HINGE GATE 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

United States Patent 1721 Inventor [45] Patented June PTENTED JUN 1 ism SHEET 1 UF 2 mvENToR GOTT IEB H. TREIBER BY AM FIG. 2

PATENTED JUN 1 :an

SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR GQTTLIEB H. TREIBER OFIFCENTER PIVOT HINGE GATE Automatic gates and doors of the various configuration are widely used. The vast majority of the devices are electrically operated. Isolated ranches and oil field areas, however, frequently require manual or vehicular operated gates which may be opened and closed by the contact of the wheels of a vehicle. Many designs are known and used, some of these concepts and designs have been patented. Your applicant designed and patented a vertical rotating gate in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,759. There was a desire to develop an improved and more effective design for an automatic gate which prompted experimentation and design embodied in this application.

The construction and operation of the gate of this invention can be briefly summarized as an automatic gate operated by the contact and lateral movement of a hurdle and track by the wheels of the vehicle. The lateral movement of the track rotates a pivot hinge pulley by means of cables. The rotation of the pivot hinge lifts the gate out of the closing latch pivoting gate off center simultaneously the pivot hinge arm tensions the opening spring accelerating the lateral motion of the gate to the open position. The gate swings open and is held in the open position bythe open latch which is mounted on a stop post. The rotation of the pivot hinge pulley is spring-biased to a closed position. When the wheels of the vehicle no longer contact the track, the track lifting spring and the gate closing spring rotates the pivot hinge to the closed position. This lifts the gate out of the open latch. The springs and the offccnter balance of the gate closes the gate whereas it is stopped and held closed bythe closing latch.

An object of this invention was to provide a gate of design equally adapted to be manually opened by hand or automatically operated by the passage of a vehicle.

Another object was to provide a durable design with a minimum of parts.

Another object was to accomplish a sequential opening and closing cycle of the gate by the passage of a vehicle of such a design as to eliminate the danger of the closing of the gate prior to the vehicle clearing the gate.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the attached views and detailed description.

Reference is now made to the annexed drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or equivalent components throughout the various views.

FIG. I is a perspective view of the automatic gate in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of the automatic gate illustrating some of the details of the lower operating components.

FIG. 3 is a fragmented sectional view of the sheave taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a fragmented view illustrating some of the dctails of the arm crank, and opening spring taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the automatic gate in the open position schematically depicting its operation by the wheels ofa vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a fragmented perspective view illustrating some of the details of the latch and latch post.

FIG. 7 is a fragmented perspective view of one of the latch lips.

For the details of construction and operation of the device, attention is invited to the various illustrations. Referring to FIG. l, the gate I0 may be of a conventional construction incorporating an outer metallic tubular frame Il and a mesh or wire strand gate fencing I2. The novelty of the construction of this invention resides in the suspension and operating components associated with the gate l0. The opening of the gate I0 is activated through the hurdle I3 to which is perfectly secured a track 14.

Referring to FIG. S as well as FIGS. l and 2, the striking of the hurdle I3 by a vehicle wheel 15 causes the hurdle I3 to rotate in the roadway hurdle bracket I6 secured to a paved track surface or roadway 17. This rotation and shifting causes a lateral movement of the track 14. Secured to the track I4 adjacent the lower edge of the gate 10 by means of track cable brackets 18 and cable clamps I9 is an loperating cable 20. This cable passes through a cable sheave 2l which is constructed with a sheave upper pulley 22 and a lower pulley 23 which are rotatable mounted in a sheave mounting bracket 24 and secured to the roadway 17. The cable 20 passes from the sheave 21 and is wound around the pivot hinge pulley 25 which is securely affixed to a pivot hinge shaft 26. This shaft 26 is rotatably secured to the gate post 27 by an upper 8 and lower post bearing 9. This pivot hinge shaft 26 is the main weight bearing as well as motion transmitting member of the combination. The upper end of the pivot hinge shafts 26 is constructed with a short segment which is substantially at right angles to the shaft 26. This section is designated as the pivot hinge arm 28. Another short vertical segment is referred to as the pivot hinge crank 29.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, secured to the top portion of frame 11 of the Gate I0 is the opening spring 30. This spring 30 is tensioned between the opening spring gate bracket 3l and the pivot hinge spring extension 32. The gate l0 is pivoted and rotatably mounted on the pivot hinge shaft 26 by means of an upper 33 and a lower gate bearing 34. The opening spring 30 can generally be said to perform or accelerate the opening function. While again referring to FIG. 2 the closing spring 35 secured to the pivot hinge pulley 2S by means of the closing spring pulley bracket 36 is a structure which stores energy to affect the closing function. ln the preferred embodiment, this closing spring 35 was secured and tensioned adjacent the cable sheave 2l by closing spring sheave bracket 37.

Referring to FIG. 6, the gate l0 is secured in the closed position by a latch post 38 in conjunction with a closing latch 39. This closing latch 39 is constructed with two tiltable latch lips 40 which are mounted on the latch bar 4l by means of latch bolts 42 and latch springs 43. The latch bar 4l may be secured to the latch post 38 by means of a bolt or latch mount ing bracket 44. Projecting from the gate l0 frame Il is a gate closing pin 45. This pin 45 in conjunction with the lips 40 serve both as a stop when the gate 10 is closed and the means to secure the gate 10 in the closed position. Referring now to FIG. 5, the gate 10 is arrested and held in the open position by the gate stop post 46 and the open latch 47. A modified structure is suggested in FIG. 1 in the form of a trailing foot 48 which may be pivotally secured to the lower edge of the gate 10 frame l1. A relatively small but of significant importance is the track lift spring 49 illustrated in FIG. l which is secured to the track I4 at substantially the midpoint of the hurdle 13. This spring 49 is compressed when the weight of the vehicle 50 is borne by the track 14 and the gate l0 is in the open posi tion. These track lift springs 49 assist and initiate the closing process when the vehicle 50 departs the track 14.

The closing and opening action of subject device is in summary as follows:

Referring to the FIGS., when the wheel I5 or the vehicle S0 strikes the hurdle I3 the hurdle 13 and track 14 are shifted along the roadway 17 away from the vehicle 50. Referring to FIG. 2, this lateral movement or motion is transmitted to the pivot hinge pulley 25 by the cables 20. The rotation of the pivot hinge shaft 26 and the pivot hinge arm 28 crank 29,`"'and pivot hinge spring extension 32 tension and the opening spring as well as shortening the distance between the gate post 27 and the upper portion of the gate I0 frame 11. This action tilts or lifts the gate I0 slightly. This movement is adequate to lift the gates closing pin 45 out of engatement with the closing latch 39. The rotation of the pivot hinge spring extension 32 tensions the opening spring 30 which in conjunction with the tilting lifting offcenter action of the pivot hinge structure causes the gate to swing open. The gate strikes stop post 46 where it is retained in the open position by the open latch 47. When the trailing wheel 15 of vehicle 50 rolls off the track l5 a reverse action occurs. The track lift spring 49 initiates the action. The track 15 is lifted slightly and the tensioned closing spring 3S rotates the pivot hinge pulley 25 to the neutral or closed position. The rotation of the pivot hinge structure lifts the gate l out of engagement with the stop post 46 open catch 47 and the opening spring 30 performs the reverse function closing the gate l0. Referring to FIG. 6, when the gate closing pin 45 strikes the outer surface of the first latch lip 40, the pivotal spring mounting permits the lip 40 to tilt inward. The gate closing pin 45 strikes the inner edge of the second lip 40 where the motion of the gate l0 is stopped. The first lip 40 when cleared by the pin 45 springs out and the two lips 40 secure the gate l() in the closed position. The modified embodiment of the trailing foot 48 in conjunction with or in lieu of stop posts open catch function similar in the open position.

A relatively obvious modification of the device which is not illustrated in the drawings would be to construct the device as a double gate opening from the center. The construction would be duplicate and identical to the above detailed description with the singular modification of using well-known gate stop retaining means in the center of the roadway. Other modifications will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the act of automatic gates.

Having described my invention and its operation in detail, l claim:

l. A vehicle operated automatic gate assembly comprising:

a. a gate,

b. gate post means constructed and arranged to pivotally and operably support said gate,

c. vehicle activated means for opening and closing said gate,

d. said vehicle activated means comprising,

1. pivot hinge means rotatably secured to said gate post intermediate said post and said gate, said pivot hinge means including:

a. a pivot hinge shaft having a top portion and a bottom portion,

b. a pivot hinge arm including a shaft end and a crank end secured to and projecting normal to the top portion of said pivot hinge shaft,

c. a pivot hinge crank secured to the crank end of said pivot hinge arm and projecting normal to said pivot hinge arm, said crank projecting in a plane displaced from and substantially parallel to the plane of said shaft,

d. motion receiving means secured to the bottom portion of said shaft having an open and closed position, and

e. an'opening spring secured to said crank and secured in tension to said gate, and

e. gate bearing means secured to said gate having an upper bearing and a lower bearing said upper bearing rotatably secured to said crank and said lower bearing rotatably secured to said pivot hinge shaft.

2. The invention ofclaim l including:

a. a hurdle tiltably secured to a roadway,

b. a track secured to said hurdle, said track adapted to move laterally responsible to the tilting of said hurdle, and

c. a motion transmitted means interconnecting said track and said motion receiving means secured to the bottom portion of said pivot hinge shaft.

3. The invention of claim l including a closing spring secured to said motion receiving means securely attached to the bottom portion of said pivot hinge shaft said spring is attached and tensioned at such a point to urge the said motion receiving means to the closed position at all times.

4. A vehicle operated gate comprising:

a. a gate post secured in an upright position,

b. an upper post bearing means and a lower post bearing means secured to said gate post,

c. a pivot hinge shaft having a top portion and a bottom portion rotatably mounted in said post bearing means,

d. a pivot hinge arm projecting at an angle from said shaft,

e. a pivot hinge crank projecting at an angle from said arm,

said crank projecting in a plane displaced from and substantially parallel to a plane containing said shaft,

f. a gate pivotallysecured to said shaft and said crank, g. a motion receiving means secured to the bottom of said shaft, said motion receiving means having an open position and a closed position,

h. an opening spring interconnecting said gate and said crank,

i. a load bearing roadway below said gate,

j. a lateral motion responsive means mounted on said roadway constructed and arranged to move responsive to the Contact of the wheel of a vehicle, and

k. a motion transmitting means interconnecting said lateral motion responsive means and motion relaying means constructed and arranged to move each responsive to the other.

S. The invention of claim 4 including a pivot hinge spring extension projecting on an axis substantially parallel to said arm and interconnecting said crank and said opening spring.

6. The invention of claim 4 including a closing spring secured to said motion receiving means and tensionally attached to the said load bearing surface in such a position as to urge the motion receiving means to a closed position.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein the motion transmitting means comprises:

a. a cable secured to said lateral motion means,

b. a sheave supporting said cable in a rotating engagement and c. a pivot hinge pulley securely mounted on the lower portion of said pivot hinge shaft. 

1. A vehicle operated automatic gate assembly comprising: a. a gate, b. gate post means constructed and arranged to pivotally and operably support said gate, c. vehicle activated means for opening and closing said gate, d. said vehicle activated means comprising,
 1. pivot hinge means rotatably secured to said gate post intermediate said post and said gate, said pivot hinge means including: a. a pivot hinge shaft having a top portion and a bottom portion, b. a pivot hinge arm including a shaft end and a crank end secured to and projecting normal to the top portion of said pivot hinge shaft, c. a pivot hinge crank secured to the crank end of said pivot hinge arm and projecting normal to said pivot hinge arm, said crank projecting in a plane displaced from and substantially parallel to the plane of said shaft, d. motion receiving means secured to the bottom portion of said shaft having an open and closed position, and e. an opening spring secured to said crank and secured in tension to Said gate, and e. gate bearing means secured to said gate having an upper bearing and a lower bearing said upper bearing rotatably secured to said crank and said lower bearing rotatably secured to said pivot hinge shaft.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. a hurdle tiltably secured to a roadway, b. a track secured to said hurdle, said track adapted to move laterally responsible to the tilting of said hurdle, and c. a motion transmitted means interconnecting said track and said motion receiving means secured to the bottom portion of said pivot hinge shaft.
 3. The invention of claim 1 including a closing spring secured to said motion receiving means securely attached to the bottom portion of said pivot hinge shaft said spring is attached and tensioned at such a point to urge the said motion receiving means to the closed position at all times.
 4. A vehicle operated gate comprising: a. a gate post secured in an upright position, b. an upper post bearing means and a lower post bearing means secured to said gate post, c. a pivot hinge shaft having a top portion and a bottom portion rotatably mounted in said post bearing means, d. a pivot hinge arm projecting at an angle from said shaft, e. a pivot hinge crank projecting at an angle from said arm, said crank projecting in a plane displaced from and substantially parallel to a plane containing said shaft, f. a gate pivotally secured to said shaft and said crank, g. a motion receiving means secured to the bottom of said shaft, said motion receiving means having an open position and a closed position, h. an opening spring interconnecting said gate and said crank, i. a load bearing roadway below said gate, j. a lateral motion responsive means mounted on said roadway constructed and arranged to move responsive to the contact of the wheel of a vehicle, and k. a motion transmitting means interconnecting said lateral motion responsive means and motion relaying means constructed and arranged to move each responsive to the other.
 5. The invention of claim 4 including a pivot hinge spring extension projecting on an axis substantially parallel to said arm and interconnecting said crank and said opening spring.
 6. The invention of claim 4 including a closing spring secured to said motion receiving means and tensionally attached to the said load bearing surface in such a position as to urge the motion receiving means to a closed position.
 7. The invention of claim 4 wherein the motion transmitting means comprises: a. a cable secured to said lateral motion means, b. a sheave supporting said cable in a rotating engagement and c. a pivot hinge pulley securely mounted on the lower portion of said pivot hinge shaft. 